Effects of sterilization on periodontal instruments

The sharpness of surgical instruments is of particular importance to the periodontist. In order to study the effects of sterilization on the cutting edges of periodontal curets and scalers, new sharpened instruments were sterilized 10 cycles with saturated steam, formalin-alcohol vapor or dry heat. The instruments were evaluated before and after sterilization with a scanning electron microscope. No visual damage to the cutting edges of stainless steel instruments was evident after sterilization by saturated steam at 250 degrees F, formalin-alcohol vapor at 270 degrees F or dry heat up to 340 degrees F. Carbon steel instruments were not damaged by formalin-alcohol vapor at 270 degrees F or dry heat up to 340 degrees F. Saturated steam caused oxidation and dulling of carbon steel instruments.